I've read all the above posts.

1. Isn't it about money?
2. Who are the thieves? Those who download without paying or those record companies who exploit the artists and pocket the profits?
3. What about the quality of the music? There was a time when the recording industry wasn't doing so well and people came to live concerts. Recordings were only calling-cards for concerts. As Sol Hurok once said, "If people want to stay away, you can't stop them."
4. Who does music belong to?
5. Can artists be supported on the basis of their artistic merits and not some dubious
business practices?
6. Doesn't genuine artistic talent surface anyway because people want to support it in their own way?
7. What about musical imperialism where taste is dictated by the pocketbook and crooked businessmen?

Solution: If you like an artist go his/her concerts and buy a ticket. If you are a booker,
make sure the artist gets a fair share. Forget the recording industry. It's rife with
mismanagement, crooked dealings, shoe-salesmen who become taste makers, too many damned attorneys cashing in, and stupid media hype.

If you like a recording company and you think they are honest, support them. That's the only kind of recording company that's worthwhile.

Stop complaining if you are an artist associated with an unscrupulous recording company (most of them are) and you are buying into the commercial music hype. And stop trying to get rich through a corrupt system. BTW, there is an analogy here between the music business and the capitalist system which needs to be revamped.

Also, ASCAP and BMI, what about offering an outlet for Public Domain music?

Frank Hamilton